Rotary engine and motor.



No. 813,018. I PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

v M. S. OKUN. ROTARY ENGINE AND MOTOR-i APPLICATION FILED APB..25, 1902.

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MosEs s. OKUN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. ROTARY ENGINE AND mores.

Specificationof Letters Patent: ,Appliatiou filed April 25, 1902. Serial No. 194, 36.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MOSES S. OKUN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the'borough of Manhattan, New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines and Motors, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,.r'eference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

In many known forms of rotary engines and motors a serious defect results from the fact that the rotary piston is fixed upon the shaft so that it cannot yield laterally in order to compensate for thelateral displacement or the tipping of the shaft out'of alinement as the bearing becomes worn, and one of the consequent evils of this is the undue wearing.

of the sides of the casing or cylinder by the tipping of the piston.

One of the principal objects of my present invention is to prevent the lateral displacement of the shaft or its tipping out of its true axial line from tipping or displacing the con' nected piston, and this I accomplish by providing a relative lateral yielding movement between these two parts. l

The invention further seeks to provide a simple, cheap, and eflicient form of engine or motor of a comparatively light weight and in which the drawing in of the explosive mixture, the compression thereof, the ignition and expansion, and final exhaust of the gases is all accomplished in one revolution of the piston. v v

To'these ends my invention consists in the various novel and peculiar arrangements and. combinations of the several parts of the apparatus, all as hereinafter fully set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

I have illustrated types of my invention in the accompanying drawings, whe1'ein--.

Figure 1 is an end View of my improved'apparatus. 2 is a view of the apparatus shown in Fig.1 in section on a central vertical plane transverse to the shaft. Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view to Fig.2 of a modified form of theapparatus. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of; the apparatus'shown in-Fi g. 3, the

plane qfthe'section being vertical and central of the appgiratus.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference designate like parts throughout, 2 1s 'a casing or so-called cylinder? comprising a peripheral part 3 and two flat 7 sides 4 4, fitted to'each other and suitably socured together to form a fluid-tight chambe; A shaft 5 is mounted in suitable bearings in the sides of the casing and extends through the casing, and. upon is mounted a body or Patented Feb,2o,'1906.

piston 6, which in this form is-eylimlrical in shape and of a diameter slightly less than the smaller diameter of the oval-shaped (ha1nber or cylinder 2, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The clrcular or cylindrical piston 6 ls provided upon its periphery with a number of spring-pressed .vanes or partitions 7, which are shown as six in number and are arranged about the same distance apart. These vanes each work in a recess 8 in the piston, in which is arranged a spring 9, which always acts to force the vane 7 from the-recess and projectit'from the piston and cause it to bear or scat itself against the interior surface of the peripheral part 3 of the cylinder. The pistonbody 6 is mounted nearer to one end of the oval-shaped casing 2 than the other, so that the crescent-shaped space 10 at one end of the cylinder is smaller thanthe other space 11 at theother end, as indicated in Fig. 2. Thepiston 6 is fitted nicelybetween the sides 4 4 of the cylinder or casing, and each of the vanes 7 fit between these two sides in a similar manner, so that the space between any two adjacent vanes or plates may serve as either a compression or an expansion chamber as the piston is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow a in Fig. 2.

Instead of mounting the piston-body 6 fast upon the shaft 5 in the usual manner I introduce between these two parts a yielding joint, which 'in thepresent instance comprises an outer yoke 12, having two opposite projections or lugs 13, which fit looselyin sockets-14, formed in the wall of the central 'opening 15 of the piston-body, so that the latter mayhave a slight play on the central line or axis of the lugs 13. Within the outer yoke 12 is arranged a similar yoke 16 of smaller size and with opposite projections or lugs 17 extending therefrom at right angles "to the lugs of the outer yoke and fitting loosely insockets 18, formed in the wall of the central opening 19 of the outeryoke, so that the outer yoke may rock on the lugs 17 as a center. This inner .yoke 16 is made fast to-the shaft 5, and the rotation of this shaft serves to drive the piston-body 6. By virtue of this yielding joint between the piston and its shaft the piston always tends to 'mainta in true axial position by reason of its bearings becoming worn or for any other reason. Thisits true position in a plane parallel with the sides of the casing even though one end of the shaft 5 should betilted or displaced from its prevents the piston-body 6 from bearing or pressing upon any particular part of the sides of the casing in which it turns with too great a pressure, which defects usually'occur where the piston'is rigid with the shaft, and such I undue pressure at particular points results in Y cutting intothe metal of the walls of the casing and injuring the apparatus, and, what is -mixed therewith is introduced to I more serious, it largely increases the friction the interior of the casing slightly distant 'irom the point where the pipe 20 enters, this arrangement being adopted merely to enable the mixture to be more freely introduced intothe, interior of the casing. The air and the usual regulated quantity of gas which is the inletpipes '20 and 21, and by the rotation of the piston 6 with its series of vanes 7 it is drawn into the space between two adjacent'vanes or partitions as such space is presented to the inlet; After the second vane 7 of a pair has passed the-inlet-pipe with its charge of' the explosive mixture between such" vanes the continued movement of the piston serves to carry the two vanes or plates around, the

4- leading vane being gradually forced into its recess, while the following 'vane is gradually reducedv in size, thereby compressing the mixprojected, and then the following vane is orced inwardly, and the space between the two vanes containing the charge is gradually ture ,to a degree that renders it ready for exj plosion, and when this compression has been effected the piston has moved the vanes around to a point about, op osite the inlet-.

point, where the compresse charge is then presented to an i 'tmg device, which consists in a small 0 amber 22, formed in the wall of the periphery of the casing and into -which extend two electrodes 23 and 24, which are connected, res ectively, with an electric circuit, (indicate bythe wires 25 and "26.) The electricspark or arc tween the electrodes 23,. and 24 serves to i 'te the. compressed charge of air and gas an explode it., ,The igniting devicemay'contain an in candescent body orany suitablewell-known form of ignitingmeans. 'When the explosion of the mixture occurs, the leading vane of the pair between which the exploding charge is carried has passed over the ignitm device,

'so that it begins tobe projected, an thereby adually increases the" surface of the vane 01' plate 7, against which theforce of expansion of the exploded gases may act, with there- Imovement of the pair of vanes containing the exploded charge carries the same around to the exhaust-p pes 27 and 28, by means of which the exp oded gases which have been used to rotate the piston are discharged from the'apparatus. r In Figs. 3 and. 4 I show a construction of a as-en me in which the vanes or plates 7 are ocate within the walls of the periphery of the casing 2, and the ex losive mixture of air and as is introduced t ough a pipe 20 to a circu ar duct or groove 29 in the slde of the piston-body 6 and passes thence through a port 30 from the periphery'of the piston mto the space between two of the vanes or lates 7, which space gradually decreases in size by the rotation of the piston, whereby'the explosive charge is compressed, and at the-time such compression is reached the igniting device 22, 23, and 24,which is mounted on the peripheryof the piston, is in such relative position-as to ignite the charge and explode it. The force of the exploded charge is directed against the periphery of the piston-body 6, w 'ch inthis caseis of an oval form, while the interior of the casing 2' is cylindrical. This difference in shape of the moving and the fixed part causes the force of the explosion tolbe transmitted to the so-called, high part of the oval-shaped piston, andthereby rotates it. The'exhaust in this form of the apparatus comprises a circular duct or groove 31, upon the opposite side of the piston from the inlet 29,'an a ort 32, Which'o ns u on the periphery of t e piston, as in icat in dotted lines in Fig. 3. 'This-exhaust-duct 31 is in constant communication with the exhaust-pipe 33, located in the side of thee l- 4 mder- 2. Inthis'form of the apparatus t e. electricwires 25 and' 26 are connected with contacts which bear. upon two contact-rings 34 on the rotatin shaft -5, and from these rings 34 wires are id through the interior 35 of the shaft, which is made hollow for this purpose. From the shaft these wires ass to the electrodes 23 and 24', as indicated y dotted lines' in Fig.3.

As is well known, the exploded charge of the compressed mixture in a gas-e sure. In order to provide a comparatively large" surface against. wh ch the ex 'losive force of the charge may act in driving t e piston, as well as to increase the size of the ex-- e is of I .a high temperature and ofa very h1gh pres-,

10, into which the mixturels introduced and subsequently compressed.

' It will be noted that in the use ofniy invention as a gas-engine the drawing in of the explosivemixture; of air and gas, the compression of the'same, its explosion and expansion, and the exhaust thereof are allv accom- 5 plished in one revolution of the piston, and so far as I am aware this is a novel feature in this type of apparatus.

The modification of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 4' is provided with the yielding Io joint between the shaft and the piston, the same as described in reference to theprimary form in other figures. From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the sides of the piston are constantly maintained in true contact with the sides of the casing against-which they snugly fit, and I thus avoid the excessive friction and cutting of such parts as occurs where the piston and shaft are rigid with each other. I 'Wish to be understood as not limiting my invention to the precise forms of construction herein set forth, as various modifications may be made in the difierent parts-thereof without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

While I have illustrated my invention in the form of a gas or ex losive' engine, it will of course be unders'too that the invention is equally applicable to a steam or other engine, 0 as well as to motors, pumps, and the like; and I have considered it unnecessary to illustrate any other form .than that herein set forth. Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Pat- 3 5 ent, is l 1. A rotary engine, motor or the like, comprising the combination'of a casing and a piston or movable element therein, which snugly fits the sides of the casing, a shaft connect-ed 40 with said movable element or piston, and

means for permitting a relative lateral movementbetween the shaftand the movable element or piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5 2. A rotary engine, motor or the like, comprisingthe combination of a casing and a piston or movable element therein, which snugly fits the sides of the casing, a shaft connected with said movable element or piston, and meansfor permitting a relative lateral angular movement between the shaft and the movable element or piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. i 3. A rotary en ine, motor or thelike, comprising the comb movable element 'or piston, which snugly fits the sides of the casing, a shaft connected withsaid movable element or piston by the means of a laterally-yielding joint consisting of a projection or projections carried by one part anda bearing or bearings or cavities for the projections carried by the other part, substantiallyas and for the-purpose set forth.

4. A rotary explosive engine comprising 6 5 the combination of two elements having rela-' ination of'a casing and ative rotary movement and having different forms so as to provide a suitable Working space between said elements, and the said elements fitting snugly to each other at certain points to prevent the leakage of fluid, a set of partitions adapted to be projected and retracted durin the relative rotary movement and divir ing the said working space into separate sections,,'which sections constitute, respectively, chambers wherein the explosive mixture is introduced and in succession compressed, i nited and expanded and finally exhausted therefrom, said cycle of.ac' tions being completed at every revolution in each section, substantially as and for the pur- 8o pose set forth.

5.. A rotary explosive engine comprising the combination of two elements, of which one fits snu 1y to the sides of the other and havin a re Iative rotary movement, one of said e ements being of ah oval form for providing between the two a compression, explosion and expansion chamber, and means operated and controlled by each complete revolution of the movable element for suc- 9o cessively drawing into the said chamber the explosive mixture, compressing the same, ig-

niting, exploding and exhaustin it, substan- 'tially as and for the purposeset orth.

6.- A rotary explosive engine comprising 5 the combination of two element'shaving rela vtive rotary movement, a suitable working space being provided between'said elements and the said elements fitting snugly to each other at certain points to prevent the leak- 10o age of fluid, a set oi -partitions adapted to be projected and retracted during the relative rotary movement and dividing the said working space into separate sections, which sections constitute, respectively, chambers wherein the explosive mixture is introduced and in succession compressed, ignited, and expanded and finally exhausted therefrom, such successive actions taking place in each of the said. sections during one revolution, 1 10 each section of such space formed between two adjacent partitions being twice reduced and enlarged in its volume during each revolution of the said movable element, said cycle of actions being completed at every revolu- 1 1 5 I tion in each section substantially as and for the, purpose set forth, I

7. A rotary explosive-engine comprising the combination of 'a-casin'g and a movable element or piston which fits snugly to the 12o sides of the casing, oneof said elementsbeing of an oval form for providing between the two a spacedivided into compartments, each of which is twice alternately reduced and increased in its capacity or area during one rev.- r2 5 olution of the piston, and means'operated and controlled by each complete revolution' of the movable element for successively drawing into the said chamber the explosive mixture', compressing the same, igniting, explod- 1' site projections forming bearings for a main I pose set forth.

ing and exhausting it, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of a casing and a body or iliston mounted therein and provided with aft, the said body or piston and casing .having a relative rotary movement and each fitting against the sides of the other,'a yoke fixed upon the shaft and providedwith oppoyoke, a main yoke mounted upon said fixed yoke and provided with o poslte projections constituting bearin s for t l ton being' mounter upon said main yoke, whereby the piston and its shaft have a lateral yielding movement relative to each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. y

29. The combination of a casing, a piston mounted within said casing and having'a relative rotary movement, the periphery of the piston and the interior of the casing being so' related as to provide twocrescent-shaped spaces at diametrically opposite points and such spaces serving as the compression and expansion chambers respectively a series of movable vanes normally closing across each of said spaces, an inlet-pipe for supplying the explosive mixture to the compressioncham-- res ectively, a series of movable vanes 7 nor- I to ' p 'sing the 'comblnation o a casing and a,

with a s ma 1y closing across each of said spaces, an inlet-pipe'for supplying the explosive mixture to the compression-chamber and 'an exhaust-pipe connected with the expansionchamber, and an igniting device for explodmgthe mixture when the sameis compressed, su

stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

.11. The combination of a casing and a body or piston mounted therein and provided aft, the said body or piston and casmg having a relative rotary movement and each fitting' snugly against the sidesof the other, and the sald body or piston and its shaft havin a universal joint between them to permit re ative lateral yieldingand at the same time cause them to rotate in response to each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. A rotary engine, pum or the like, comw movable element fitting snugly therein to the sides of the casing, a shaft connected with said movable element and actuated thereby,

1e piston, said pis- 'said shaft and movable element having arel- .tive oscillatory or pivotal motion. substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'13. A rotary engine, pump or the like, comprising the combination of a statiomn' and a movable element fitting snugly to each other, a space between the two said elemehts and into which the gas or fluid is introduced, the

two said elements fitting snugly against each. other in order to prevent the escape of the said as or fluid from the said space, a shaft on w i'ch the movable element is mounted,

and said shaft and movable element having a relative lateral motion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth,

' 14. A rotary engine, pump or the like, comprising the combination of a stationary and a movable element fitting snugly to each other,

a space between the two said elements and into which the'gas or fluid is introduced, the

tWO', said elements fitting snugly against each other in order toprevent the escape of the said as or fluid from the said space, a shaft on w ich the movable element is mounted,

and said'shaft and movable element havinga relative oscillatory or; pivotal motion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1 5. A rotary engine, pump or the like, comprising the combination of a stationary and a movable element fitting snugly to each other, a space between the two said elements and into which the gas or fluid is introduced, the

two said elements fitting snugly against each other in order to prevent the escape of the said gas or fluid from the said space, a shaft on which said movable element is mounted and a-universal joint between said shaft and movable element, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. A rotary engine, pump or the like, comprisin the combination ofra stationary and a mova le element fitting snugly to each other,

a spacebetween the two said elements and into which the gas or fluid is introduced, the

two said elements fitting snugly against each other in order to prevent the escape of the saidiiits or fluid from the said space, a shaft .on w ch said movable element is mounted, the joint between said shaft and movable element comprising one or more projections carried by one'part and fitting in bearings or cavities carried by the other part, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. A rotary explosive r like engine comprising the combination 0 a suitable casing and a rotarypiston mounted therein and fitting snugly to the sides of the casing, a suitable s ace between the piston and casing varying in its distance between the two so as to make such space of a gradually-increasing size from one point to another, the said space being contracted at two places and enlarged attwo places intermediate between the contracted ones, a set of partitions dividing said space into separate sections and said partitions being projected and retracted as the piston rotates, an inlet-pipe for supplying the explosive mixture to the interior of the casing and an exhaust pipe leadin from said casing and an i niting device, t e said ex plosive mixture being introduced into each of said sections once during each complete revolution of the piston and being compressed, ignited and expanded in and exhausted from each of said sections once during each revolution, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. A rotary ex losive-engine comprising the combination 0 two elements having relative rotary movement, a suitable working space being provided between said elements and the said elements fitting snugly'to each other at certain points to prevent the leakage of fluids, a set of partitions adapted to be projected and retracted during t e relative ro-- tion withsaid working space between the two said elements, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set MOSES S OKUN.

Witnesses:

WILLIS FOWLER,

SAMUEL M. OHEsNU'r.

my hand in the presence of the two subscrib- 3 5 ing witnesses. 

